inveterate

American  

[in-vet-er-it] / ɪnˈvɛt ər ɪt /

adjective

1. settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling, or the like.

   an inveterate gambler.

   Synonyms:

   habitual, constant, hardened

2. firmly established by long continuance, as a disease, habit, practice, feeling, etc.; chronic.

   Synonyms:

   rooted, fixed, set

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inveterate British  

/ ɪnˈvɛtərɪt /

adjective

1. long established, esp so as to be deep-rooted or ingrained

   an inveterate feeling of hostility

2. (prenominal) settled or confirmed in a habit or practice, esp a bad one; hardened

   an inveterate smoker

3. obsolete full of hatred; hostile

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Other Word Forms

• inveteracy noun
• inveterately adverb
• inveterateness noun

Etymology

Origin of inveterate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin inveterātus (past participle of inveterāre “to grow old, allow to grow old, preserve”), equivalent to in- in- ² + veter- (stem of vetus “old”) + -ātus -ate ¹; veteran

Example Sentences

During his more than three decades as Simon Property Group’s chief executive, the inveterate dealmaker gobbled up competitors and defied critics, who said malls were obsolete.

From The Wall Street Journal

Duer was also an inveterate speculator and get-rich-quick schemer: “king of the alley,” as Thomas Jefferson derisively referred External link to Wall Street.

From Barron's

Duer was also an inveterate speculator and get-rich-quick schemer: “king of the alley,” as Thomas Jefferson derisively referred External link to Wall Street.

From Barron's

The Season 8 finale saw protagonist, narrator and inveterate daydreamer J.D.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, there is irony in Grantham, the inveterate bear, advancing an argument that could turn out to have bullish implications.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• addicted
• habitual
• hard-core
• hardened
• incurable
• lifelong